Bestselling author Olivia Dade welcomes you to Harlot’s Bay in this delightfully sexy rom-com about a woman who buys the town's famous Spite House, only to realize the infuriating man she can't stand lives right next door—and their unwilling proximity might spark something neither can ignore.
When Athena Greydon’s fiancé ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. Which is a problem, for several reasons: The house, originally built as a brick middle finger to the neighbors, is only ten feet wide. Her ex’s home is literally attached to hers. And Dr. Matthew Vine the Freaking Third—AKA the uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to leave her—is living on her other side, only a four-foot alley away.
If she has to see Matthew every time she looks out her windows, she might as well have some fun with the situation. By, say, playing erotic audiobooks at top volume with those windows open. A woman living in a Spite House is basically obligated to get petty payback however she can, right?
Unfortunately, loathing Matthew proves more difficult than anticipated. He helps her move. He listens. And he’s kind of…hot? Dammit.
Matthew may not regret ending his brother's engagement, but he does regret what the breakup has done to Athena. He'll help her however he can. If that means finding her work, fine. If that means enduring nightly steamy story hours, so be it. And if that means watching Athena through their windows a bit too often and caring about her a bit too much…well, nothing can come of it. She’ll never forgive him. Even if she did, how could he ever tell his beloved younger brother the truth—that Matthew wants the very same woman he encouraged Johnny to leave?
Staff Choice: Lília
When Athena's fiancé Johnny ends their engagement, she has no choice but to move into the Spite House she recklessly bought him as a wedding gift. But the house is sandwiched between his house and his brother's, an uptight, judgy jerk who convinced his younger brother to dump her.
Through the book Athena learns who Matthew really is, and Matthew starts understanding why Johnny fell in love with Athena, while he himself falls in love with her. He realizes he's the better option for her, but what will he do when his brother comes back from his alone honeymoon?
I confess I judged this book by its cover and I judged it right. I love Olivia Dade's books about curvy women - and men! - and the way she addresses mental issues without being judgmental and in a very natural way. It made me laugh out loud, cry sad tears and root for Athena and Matthew to get together.
All in all a beautifully written love story about real people, with real problems and, most importantly, mature people. There are so few romance with more mature characters and Olivia Dade always do it very well.
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